As my knowledge of the "C" to "61" change over point keeps moving (It's currently at C206), I figured
C200 would be the best starting point for this range. For one thing, it keeps all the Tango balls on one list.

While I've always regarded this era of Subbuteo as being full of poor value competition tie-ins, combined sets of older stuff, as well as lots and lots of balls,
there are some radical redesigns in here, such as the new look grandstand and floodlights. Some of the tie-ins are nice too. Check out the Italia '90 goals,
even if they are self-assembly (Grrrr). Note that for this era the promotional stuff has becomes global, so there are no English descriptions or product names for me to quote.November 2001: I'm now aware of C200, so this page has had a name change!

Box types:- The first few accessories on this page arrived
in the final Cxxx range, when the monochrome-logo box was current. However, only
C204 was big enough to be boxed in this era. The 61xxx era began with the
green-logo boxes. This colour existed from 1984-87, and 61207, 61208, 61213, and
61214 debuted in this colour. The arrival of the new grandstands coincided with
a change of colour on the logos, and the rest of this page debuted in the
red-logo box. For the Italia '90 accessories, the red-logo box was quite
short-lived before the pitch-corner boxes arrived in 1990.

The ideal accessory for any fashion conscious Subbuteo player travelling to away fixtures :-)
I'm the proud owner of this lime green monstrosity, but I've only recently found
its true place in the accessory range. It was quoted as C200 on the February 1983
price list, which stated "new for 1983". It's interesting to note that
the price list for that year had a split between items available from your
stockist, and items only available on request (either through the stockist, or
direct from Subbuteo). Despite being a new item, this bag was part of the later
range (and therefore didn't make the 1983 poster). It remained in the range
though, being listed as 61200 Subbuteo bag as late as January 1985. This item was also set C1950
in the NASL range.

An accessory to officially
sanction the use of the oversized "corner kick" figures to take goal kicks. As
with most versions of the spare goalkeeper (C106), the use of black shorts to
make the figures appear more goalkeeper-like has been employed. 1983-86 was their short life span.

To use instead of C106, or even
instead of C201 above. These were introduced in 1983 at a time when the excess items of the early 1980's were being cut back, and I remember being surprised to see new figures introduced. Both are completely new designs, and I believe the first Subbuteo figures to be holding small OO scale
balls (okay, apart from the cricket bowler). However, while both looked cool on the
1983 poster, in reality, as the scans may show, the castings are messy, and lack the real fine detail which distinguished early models in the range. They are not exactly balanced correctly either. Neither of these were available by
1987, although the kicker was in the 1986 World Cup Edition, and I know that they
lasted longer in Italy and Greece (perhaps it was just unsold stock). Amazing as
it sounds, Subbuteo did actually put these goalkeepers onto rods - see accessory
61211 below...

Once again showing Subbuteo's
impeccable timing when it comes to trophies, this finally appeared in 1983, just before English clubs were thrown out of European competition because of crowd violence. While it is fair to say that the actual European Cup is rather plain (although huge), I still think this is the poorest of all the Subbuteo trophy range. It doesn't even warrant a plinth. It hung around though, and by
1987 only the FA Cup remained to keep it company, although the Premiership trophy was added after this time.

Pack Types:- This accessory was known as C204 for the first year of
its production, and therefore received this lovely monochrome logo box,
similar to the World Cup version. Sadly, this did not last for long, as the
1984 re-numbered range put all the cups on bubble packs. In the early 1990s
everything in the accessory range was boxed, and so the cup has a
pitch-corner box, although it was a fairly ugly design. Hasbro put the cup
back in a bubble pack in 1996.

The first set of Tango balls, these
had black print on white balls. See also 61209 and 61212.
A nice straightforward ball, usually provided in a thick plastic. The set
existed until 1995, and was also used in the France 98 box set, and the assorted ball pack
of 1996 (61233)

Pack types:- As with most of the balls on
this page - bubble pack in the late 1980s, useful small pitch-corner box in the
1990s

With an increase in substitutes, away kits, and international squad numbers, this pack of number transfers up to 22, replaced C129, which was just 1-11. Probably produced to cover the limited edition world cup teams, which were produced as a full squad. I tended to use 1-11 for home kits and 12-22 for away kits so as not to waste them. They pre-date the premiership squad numbering system - if they produced numbers
nowadays, they'd have to get into the thirties :-). The first poster appearance for these is 1984, when they already have a "61" number. However, when I pulled out a couple of old packs to scan, I noticed that one said "C206" on it, so this could be the last item to have a continental number.
Appears in several of the later box sets, and was still in the 1995 range.

Pack types:- None as such, but a nice
trade box was produced for a toy-shop counter, and is illustrated.

These goals were based on those used in the real 1984 European
Championships. They had a quirky design, with full side supports from the
crossbar to the back posts, but the net does not go that far.
Instead it drops short, onto two hooks on the base,
leaving a short rectangular goal. The attractive curved back supports make for a
robust goal, but the nets were so narrow and tight that the ball would usually
bounce out again, leading to many an argument or fight over whether it had gone
in at all.

The goals lasted from 1984 to 1988, and their place in the range
was taken by the Italia 90 goals (61219) in 1989, which were similar in design,
but thankfully with deeper nets.

One advantage these goals did have were the huge screw holes in
the bases. They must be the easiest Subbuteo goal to fix to a permanent board.

Box types:- The short 1984-89 production meant that these
goals appeared in two box types - green logo, and red logo (as shown above).

Thanks to Robbie for giving me the correct
name for these goals. Items were not named in the catalogues of the 1980s,
so that the same catalogue could be sold in different countries.

This is simply a set that combines the classic brown TV Tower (C110) with the more modern TV Unit (C156).
This worked rather well, and ensured that the much loved TV Tower was sold to another
generation of Subbuteo fans. Makes you wonder how many of these have been made
down the years.... The set runs from 1985 to 1995

Box Types:- This was introduced into the Green-Logo
era, and then existed in both the Red-Logo and Pitch-Corner boxes. The pitch
corner box is a horizontal design, and is not as eye-catching. In
addition, the tower comes unassembled in this version, and does not fit the
box once assembled.

The later self-assembly version of the set has a sheet showing
how to construct the tower.

These were the same design as C205 except that they
were printed on a fluorescent orange football. Nice.
The set arrived in 1986, and stayed in the range until 1995. The Tango balls
(these and the white ones) were regarded by tournament players as the best balls
produced, and were recommended by The Federation of International Sport Table
Soccer.

Pack types:- As with most of the balls on
this page - bubble pack in the late 1980s, useful small pitch-corner box in the
1990s. The card here shows "The football game" as a heading.

A set of white balls with Mitre and Delta logos. On one ball the logos are blue, on one red, and on the other black.
So more good quality balls with nice clear logos. They existed alongside the orange and
white Tangos from 1986 to 1995.

Pack types:- As with most of the balls
on this page - bubble pack in the late 1980s, small pitch-corner box in the
1990s

Thanks to Steffano Montecchiesi and Gordon Watt for providing me with the correct details for 61211. This was a rather strange set of assorted goalkeepers on rods. As you can tell from the illustration, the standard diving, and capped goalies would be useful, but I'm not sure a ordinary player makes a good crouching goalie, and as for trying to use the C202 throwing figure...oh dear me. The set was also available with the C203 kicking goalkeeper as the fourth figure, which is even more useless than the throwing
one (who at least benefits from having some reach). Available from 1986 to 1988, this isn't the greatest Subbuteo accessory of all time :-)

Pack type:- Their short existence means
that they are only available on a netting backing card. However, a choice of
different colours for the 'keepers, along with having a kicking or throwing
version is surely variation enough.

Where have you seen these before?
These were another Tango ball, this time in a particularly lurid yellow
colour. These balls do not have the same length of service as their white and
orange brothers. They arrived in 1986, but departed in 1989 to
make room for the Italia 90 balls - 61220.

Note the two different logos to look for.

Pack type:- The odd set out. Just the late
1980s bubble pack with "netting" card. They did not last long enough to get
a 1990s box.

I only know the name of these goals because I have a set and it is
on the box. But why Mundial exactly? These goals were reminiscent of the
Championship goal (C182) in that they have poles supporting the back of the net.
However, these look a lot different once set up, as the net drops straight down
from the poles whereas the Championship goal slopes sharply to the back corners.
So the areas within the goal was bigger. These were a favoured choice of 1990s
players, as the depth of the goal, and loose nets means shots are likely
to stay in, saving a lot of arguments. The nets were either yellow or white, and they were sold 1986-93.

Box types:- Arrived in the green-logo
box era. They then received a red-logo, and finally a pitch corner box (both
these are illustrated).

A clean-up set of the "stand around the pitch" figures who were
not included in 61208. The three combined sets are C104, C134, and
C159. The 1980s boxes match the TV tower box in size, and this was really much bigger than it needed to be.
although matching boxes looked nicer on the shelf.
The box changed shape in the 1990s, but this did not really reduce its size. The set was sold
from 1986 until 1995,
when it was reissued with the bench set and camera men from 61208 added as 61239.

Box Types:- This arrived in the green-logo box in 1986,
and then ran through the red-logo, and pitch-corner box types. Green and Red
are illustrated. Both have "The Football Game" sub-headings (both colours on
61207 above have "Table Soccer" sub-headings - strange).

These were white balls printed with black triangles and Diadora and Samba logos.
They look very effective. They arrived in the 1988 catalogue, filling what was an
empty space in the 1987 version (just above Ronnie Whelan's head!). They only
remain in the range until 1991, and the 1992 catalogue replaced them with 61223
Umbro Elite balls. This makes the Samba's a little more tricky to find than the
other balls of this era (although luckily I picked a set up recently after a
long search!)

Pack types:- As with most of the balls
on this page - bubble pack in the late 1980s, useful small pitch-corner box
in the 1990s

A major overhaul for the grandstand to give it a smart, sleek new look. Gone
was the tan and green, and in came red and blue seating with grey trimmings. In the new design the lower tier
was sat forward so the stand actually took up more floor/table space. However, there is actually less room for the crowd because the back half of
the lower tier is lost behind semi-transparent plastic. Hey, I've just
realized how modern this stand really is. It's bigger than ever, but there's less room for ordinary supporters because of all the corporate hospitality rooms :-).

This set arrived in 1988 and was originally issued with 25
unpainted supporters. Later this was increased to 50.

Box types:- Arrived in the red logo era (see 61217 for
a picture of this style of box). The more common 1990s pitch corner box is
shown here (this can have Waddingtons or Hasbro details).

The later versions also had a
slight colour variation, with the blue being deeper, and the red brighter.

No major revision here,
just a change of colour, which somehow really did make the old terraces look
up-to-date. As a bonus, this set does include 25 unpainted supporters (from
61168). These terraces always looked white in the catalogues (as they do here),
but in fact they are grey.

Box types:- The 1988-90 "red logo" box
is shown. The later pitch corner box is more common.

For previous World Cups, Subbuteo
had been content with updating the scoreboard, or with putting the teams in different boxes (e.g. in
1982). The Italia '90 World Cup was the first time branded accessories were issued for a specific tournament. It was obviously a success, as it was repeated at USA '94, and Euro '96.

This first tie-in is another redesigned goal.
It was a pretty striking design though, so I guess they were a worthy addition. Basically,
these had the full side supports like 61207, but unlike that set, the nets go right over the top of the back supports creating a
big goal area, and a soft landing for the ball. To give that Italia feel, the nets are the colours of the Italian flag - green, white and red.
The set was introduced in 1989, and was available in both the "red
logo" boxes of the late 1980s, and the "pitch corner" boxes of
the 1990s. The USA 94 version replaced it in 1993.

Box types:- As mentioned above, the Italia 90
accessories were the last to feature in the "red-logo" boxes. Unusually for
a box of goals, this original box only featured a small picture of the goal,
instead using a photo of an Italy vs. Brazil game (also seen on the 61211
box below). The goal nets on the box look much nicer than the real nets.

The "pitch-corner" box of the 1990s is more
common, and looks more like the standard goal boxes. The nets on this one
are more realistic....

The second Italia '90
accessory, these were white balls with black harlequin spots a la C127, but to add Italia flavour they
had extra green and red spots half hidden behind the black ones. A charming set.
There were two variations of this ball. The original Italia '90 ball, released in
both a bubble pack and a box, had the Italia '90 mascot and logo printed
between the spots. This was dropped on later editions (once the World Cup was
over I suppose). The set was in the catalogues from 1989 to 1992 - and the USA 94
balls logically replaced it at that point.

Pack Types:- The original Italia 90 releases occurred
in 1989, in the old red-logo era. Balls were still bubble-packed at that
time, so that was the original packaging for 61220. It had its own unique
backing card though (see above). In 1990 everything moved to the
"pitch-corner" style of packing, and the smaller accessories were boxed. The
Italia balls were therefore sold in a box. The final edition of these balls dropped the
Italia logos, and were sold in a box showing the new version.

This was the third of the Italia '90 sets, and must rank as the most expensive tie-in produced (not counting full sets of course).
Although special goal and ball sets were produced for subsequent tournaments,
this was the only special pitch outside of the box sets. (The Premiership and Man
Utd sets both have special pitches).

The item was illustrated in the
earlier of the two small brochures issued with teams and accessories in the
1990s. This illustration showed the pitch as a standard nylon affair (and also
incorrectly quoted the number 61211). However, the version I own is a fine
quality felt pitch. At first sight, this resembles a 1970s pitch, but it is
really a different surface again. I think it is just a large sheet of felt.

Box types:-The
set was produced 1989-90 only, but still managed to exist in both a 1980s box
(as shown) and a 1990s one. The size
of the box is also surprising, because it matched the box used for the grandstand in
size. That is big enough for a couple of pitches.

Okay, it's time to click the appropriate option to continue your
tour of the Subbuteo accessory range.